10-yr median earnings
$46,833
Federal aid recipients only
Public · Gunnison, Colorado
Western Colorado University
Western Colorado University is a public institution in Gunnison, Colorado. as a public institution, published Scorecard outcomes are the federal Title-IV cohort view of former students — not every graduate and not a guarantee for any one enrollee.
- $16,425
- Avg net price / yr
- $46,833
- 10-yr median earnings
- 50.6%
- 150%-time completion
- 99.7%
- Acceptance rate
The verdict
Western Colorado University pairs above-median former-student earnings with open admission.
According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
- Top 35%
- former-student earnings, US
- 99.7%
- acceptance rate
- 50.6%
- 150%-time completion
- +17%
- earnings, 6→10 yrs
Town: Remote
Carnegie: Master's (M)
Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.
How to read this Western Colorado University profile
Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.
Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.
Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.
College Value Score
C-
College Value Score
51/100
Western Colorado University
A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.
Earnings C+
$46,833
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price C-
$16,425
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate D
50.6%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$20,250
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment B+
73.5%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention D
72.4%
First-year students returning for year two
Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.
Avg net price
$16,425
After grants and scholarships
150%-time completion
50.6%
Full-time, first-time cohort
150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 50.6%
Four-year-institution cohort
College ROI Quadrant - Western Colorado University vs peers
Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.
How Western Colorado University ranks nationally
Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.
Western Colorado University: former-student earnings vs. every US college
10-year median earnings, College Scorecard
$46,833 Top 35% higher than 65% of 5,103 US colleges
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals
| Metric | Western Colorado University | National rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $46,833 | #1772 of 5103 | 65th |
| Average net price | $16,425 | #2362 of 5020 | 53rd (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 50.6% | #2929 of 4858 | 40th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,586 | #1695 of 5462 | 69th |
National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.
Quick Facts
1,586
Undergraduate enrollment
99.7%
Acceptance rate
1,230
SAT average
50.6%
150%-time completion
$46,833
10-yr median earnings
72.4%
First-year retention
How Western Colorado University ranks in Colorado
State rank among 69 reporting Colorado colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.
| Metric | Western Colorado University | State rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $46,833 | #20 of 69 | 71st |
| Average net price | $16,425 | #30 of 69 | 57th (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 50.6% | #38 of 65 | 42nd |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,586 | #30 of 75 | 60th |
Highest former-student earnings in Colorado
| # | School | 10-yr earnings | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado School of Mines | $97,335 | $28,690 |
| 2 | Denver College of Nursing | $81,809 | - |
| 3 | Colorado State University Global | $76,813 | $16,510 |
| 4 | Regis University | $72,105 | $18,397 |
| 5 | University of Denver | $71,155 | $36,131 |
| 6 | University of Colorado Boulder | $69,738 | $25,346 |
| 7 | Colorado College | $65,222 | $33,375 |
| 8 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | $64,270 | $11,900 |
| 9 | Galen Health Institutes-Aurora | $61,480 | - |
| 10 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | $60,543 | $21,279 |
| 11 | Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology | $59,093 | $30,065 |
| 12 | Colorado State University Pueblo | $55,563 | $10,051 |
| 20 | Western Colorado UniversityThis school | $46,833 | $16,425 |
Admissions
| Admission Rate | 99.7% |
| SAT Average | 1,230 |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 555 – 670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 608 – 683 |
| ACT Average | 24 |
| ACT (25th-75th) | 22 – 26 |
Costs & Financial Aid
Net price by family income at Western Colorado University
Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket
- $0 – $30k
$0 – $30k
$11,490 net price / yr
- $30k – $48k
$30k – $48k
$10,868 net price / yr
- $48k – $75k
$48k – $75k
$13,908 net price / yr
- $110k+
$110k+
$21,396 net price / yr
What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Western Colorado University - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.
Tuition & Net Price
| In-State Tuition | $11,318 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $24,434 |
| Average Net Price | $16,425 |
12.0%
Pell Grant Rate
19.7%
Federal Loan Rate
$20,250
Median Debt
$215/mo
Monthly Payment
Net price at Western Colorado University swings rather than trends
Across 11 reported years between 2013 and 2023, the average net price here has ranged from $14,177 to $17,437 without settling into a rise or a fall. Comparing only the first and last years would read as +18.3%, but the years in between do not follow that line, so the honest summary is the range rather than a trend. Budget against the upper end, not the average.
Lowest year
$14,177
Highest year
$17,437
Most recent (2023)
$16,773
11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
2013 · $14,1772023 · $16,773
Over the same years, enrollment went -15.5% (1,956 → 1,653 students).
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.
Student Demographics
Race & ethnicity
Student body at a glance
41.6%
Female
25.0%
First Generation
Outcomes
72.4%
Retention Rate
$40,037
Median Earnings (6yr)
53.5%
Earning Over $25K
73.5%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)
Outcomes & debt snapshot
| Measure | Cohort / horizon | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Completion within 150% of normal time | First-time, full-time | 50.6% |
| First-year retention | First-time, full-time freshmen | 72.4% |
| Median earnings | 6 years after entry | $40,037 |
| Median earnings | 10 years after entry | $46,833 |
| Share earning over $25,000 | Working, not enrolled | 53.5% |
| Loan repayment rate | Completers, 3 years after leaving | 73.5% |
| Median federal student debt | At completion | $20,250 |
| Estimated monthly payment | Standard 10-year plan | $215/mo |
Programs & Earnings
Field-of-study summary by credential
| Credential | Programs | Award count | Avg earnings | Top earnings | Avg debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 16 | 378 | $49,648 | $63,922 | $21,007 |
| Master's | 2 | 79 | $62,473 | $67,308 | $30,744 |
Top programs at Western Colorado University by completer earnings
Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file
- Natural Resources Conserva…
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
$67,308 median earnings
- Accounting and Related Ser…
Accounting and Related Services
$63,922 median earnings
- Business Administration, M…
Business Administration, Management and Operations
$61,876 median earnings
- Education, General
Education, General
$57,638 median earnings
- Sociology
Sociology
$57,359 median earnings
- Biology, General
Biology, General
$50,954 median earnings
- Natural Resources Conserva…
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
$49,170 median earnings
- Parks, Recreation, and Lei…
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies
$48,109 median earnings
What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.
| Program | Credential | Completers | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | Master's | 26 | $67,308 | $39,488 |
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's | 4 | $63,922 | - |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's | 80 | $61,876 | $22,470 |
| Education, General | Master's | 53 | $57,638 | $22,000 |
| Sociology | Bachelor's | 27 | $57,359 | - |
| Biology, General | Bachelor's | 47 | $50,954 | $17,065 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | Bachelor's | 28 | $49,170 | $19,646 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | Bachelor's | 20 | $48,109 | $14,753 |
| Communication and Media Studies | Bachelor's | 24 | $47,426 | $20,750 |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's | 33 | $47,401 | $26,000 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | Bachelor's | 37 | $40,636 | $23,375 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | Bachelor's | 33 | $39,865 | - |
| English Language and Literature, General | Bachelor's | 9 | $39,414 | - |
| Computer Programming | Bachelor's | - | - | - |
| Mathematics | Bachelor's | 12 | - | - |
Explore Data-Matched Colleges
Matches use Scorecard measures among reporting colleges — not state-system recommendations or geographic proximity.
Similar Enrollment and Sector
Other Public institutions closest in reported enrollment, preferring the same Carnegie classification.
Similar Reported Net Price
Other Public institutions with the nearest reported average net price.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Coon Rapids, MN
$16,434 net price · $9 apart
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX
$16,404 net price · $21 apart
University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus
Hartford, CT
$16,403 net price · $22 apart
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Dallas, PA
$16,448 net price · $23 apart
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Western Colorado University? ▼
Western Colorado University is a public institution in Gunnison, Colorado. The acceptance rate is 99.7%. The average SAT score is 1,230. Undergraduate enrollment is 1,586 students.
How much do Western Colorado University former students earn? ▼
Federally aided former students at Western Colorado University who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $46,833 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $40,037.
How much does Western Colorado University cost? ▼
The average net price at Western Colorado University is $16,425. In-state tuition is $11,318 and out-of-state tuition is $24,434. Median student debt at graduation is $20,250.
What is the graduation rate at Western Colorado University? ▼
Western Colorado University has a 50.6% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 72.4%.
Is Western Colorado University worth the student debt? ▼
The median student debt at Western Colorado University is $20,250, while former students earn a median of $46,833 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 43% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 73.5% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $215.
Sources & methodology
Public-college profiles lean on IPEDS enrollment and Scorecard Title-IV outcomes. State appropriations are outside this page; the figures below are the federal cohort measures only.
Every number is read live from the Mar–Jul 2026 Scorecard/IPEDS retrievals. Public institutions often enroll large Title-IV cohorts, so medians can be stable — still cohort averages, never a personal forecast. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.
- College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education - former-student earnings, cost & completion (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics - enrollment, admissions, Carnegie class & demographics (nces.ed.gov/ipeds).
- U.S. Treasury / IRS earnings linkage - median earnings 6 & 10 years after enrollment for federal-aid recipients (irs.gov).
- College Scorecard, Field of Study - program-level (credential) earnings & debt (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- Federal Student Aid (Title IV / NSLDS) - U.S. Department of Education - net price, student debt & aid-recipient repayment outcomes (studentaid.gov).
Where to go next from Western Colorado University
- Compare Western Colorado University against schools with similar outcomes at a lower average net price.Find similar schools that cost less
- Browse every reporting college in Colorado side by side.Browse Colorado
- See how fields of study differ on former-student earnings and debt.Explore programs
Public-college Scorecard figures are historical Title-IV cohort averages — confirm current tuition, aid, and admissions rules with the institution before deciding.
Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Public-institution profiles compile Scorecard Title-IV earnings, IPEDS enrollment/admissions, and Treasury linkage fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.